Another Tough Season Opener

LUBBOCK, Texas (November 5, 2011) - "It’s not how you start the season, it is how you finish the season," has been a motto Lubbock Christian University has leaned on in recent basketball memory and one they hope will be true again this season.  The Lady Chaparrals, who have had their last eight seasons come to a close at the NAIA National Championship tournament, opened the 2011-2012 season Saturday to a 61-44 home loss to NCAA Div. II Metro State College to mark a season-opening loss for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

The 44 points for LCU was their lowest point total produced since scoring 40 on Jan. 2, 2010 at Oklahoma City University.  That game also stood as the last time LCU went without a three-pointer (0/15), until they went 0/17 against Metro State. It was such a tough evening for the Lady Chaps that they had more points from the free-throw line (26) than from the field (18).

Despite the 20.9% (9/43) field goal shooting in the game, LCU had opportunities.  The Lady Chaps led 18-15 with 5:37 remaining in the first half of play and ended up trailing 22-21 at half time. LCU trailed 30-28 with 15:35 remaining, but then the Roadrunners exploded for a 23-4 run over the next eight minutes.  Metro State led as much as 58-34 (3:34) in the game.

The Roadrunners received 13 points from Jenessa Burke, and they were 6-of-9 from three point range as a team.  LCU was led by 13 points from Kelsey Canavan, who was 5-of-6 from the field.  Her Lady Chaps teammates combined to go 4-of-37 (10.8%) from the field.

LCU (0-1) will look to rebound Monday night at 6 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center, as they host University of Texas - Permian Basin.  The game was an exhibition game for Metro State, who remains in Lubbock Sunday for an exhibition game against Texas Tech University.